Drug charges lead to suspension of South Park High School guidance counselor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A guidance counselor at South Park High School was suspended Wednesday after being charged with several drug-related crimes, school officials said.
Angela Singer, 34, of West Homestead was charged by Allegheny County Police with drug possession, possession with intent to deliver, tampering with evidence and other offenses.
The charges stem from an ongoing narcotics investigation. Allegheny County Police were in Munhall and Homestead on Tuesday, investigating sales of suspected fentanyl found in stamp bags labeled “The King” and picturing a gorilla. Police said the bags have been tied to multiple overdoses.
Shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, police said they spotted Ms. Singer in a car with another woman and that both are known to be drug addicts.
They said a man walked over to the driver’s side, where the other woman was sitting, and “exchanged an unknown item” with her in a manner “consistent with street level narcotics sales.”
Police later stopped the car and saw Ms. Singer push stamp bags between the center console of the car and her seat. Police said they found stamp bags with a gorilla and “The King” there.
When they arrested Ms. Singer, she “pleaded with us not to take her to jail because she was a guidance counselor at a local high school but was currently on leave in order to get help with her addiction issues,” according to a criminal complaint.
Police went to Ms. Singer’s home, where a man named Eric Singer was looking after both of the women’s children. Police said they found cocaine, small straws and empty stamp bags labeled “The King” inside the home.
Police wrote that they also intend to charge Mr. Singer. Charges had not been filed against the woman who was in the car with Ms. Singer.
In a letter Wednesday to families in the school district, superintendent Wayne P. Gdovic said Ms. Singer had been on leave since mid-January.
“Upon notification of these allegations ..., the employee immediately was suspended pending the results of the investigation and will have no contact with South Park students,” the letter said.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, I cannot comment further.”
Ms. Singer faces a preliminary hearing Wednesday.